Every team has a singular opponent on their schedule that gets special attention. On the days leading up to the game, practices are a little more intense, the focus and attention to detail a little sharper and the anxiety a little higher.

Separated by only 79 miles of bayous, lakes and the Mississippi river, the rival of Nicholls State (9-14,4-7) is the university in the north shore woods, Southeastern Louisiana University (7-16, 4-6).

Both teams are entering the matchup with conference records under .500, but with the trend of close games between the two schools over the past five seasons with no win or loss exceeding single digits, one can only expect a tightly contested battle from start to finish.

The Lions have held the edge over the Colonels in the past 10 games 7-3. Nicholls will be looking to build off an impressive three game stretch, posting a 2-1 record including their first back-to-back wins this season. An emphasis on defense has been responsible for the recent turnaround.

Leading the Colonels in scoring this year is guard Amin Torres, a junior from New Orleans, averaging 10.8 points per game while Sam McBeath, redshirt junior from Syndey, Australia, leads the team in rebounds. Where the Colonels have been most afflicted this year is the lack of consistent point guard play. When starting senior point guard Schane Rillieux went down for the season with an ankle injury, so did the Colonels offensive efficiency, as turnovers have risen to an alarming 16.7 per game.

“We’ve been addressing it all year, and I think the guys really took it to heart after that loss and realized how costly some of our inefficiencies on the offensive end can be,” Coach J.P. Piper said. “They have rededicated themselves to working on offense and getting shots up after practice, and we’re starting to see results of that.”

The Colonels are coming off a tough loss earlier this week at Incarnate Word, the second most efficient scoring team in the nation at 84 points per game, 73-64. It was a war of attrition as both teams were forced to play shorthanded due to injuries to guards. The Colonels trailed at halftime 23-29 and even tied the game at 44. However, the Cardinals pulled away late in the second half, turning 16 Colonel turnovers into 24 points.

Naturally, love will saturate the air in Thibodaux on Saturday on Valentine’s Day, but make no mistake, love will not permeate the walls of Stopher Gym when the ball is tipped between the Colonels and Lions at 3 p.m.